Namje Community Homestay - A peaceful retreat in Nepal’s eastern hills

Around 13 homes participate in the Namje Community Homestay, offering cozy homely accommodation with enough modern features to keep you comfortable. Rooms are equipped with fans, which will be welcome in the warmer months.

Bathrooms are separate from the main houses, and have Nepali-style squat toilets (which may be easier to use than you imagine!) They are private, and come with hot water for your comfort and clean towels.

ABOUT NAMJEY

Namje is an idyllic village in the hills of eastern Nepal. The Namje Community Homestay is ideally situated between Kathmandu, Janakpur, the eastern Terai, and Ilam, so can easily be included in a tour of these other major places. There’s enough to see and do here for more than a single night’s stopover, however, so plan to spend a couple of days exploring the area.

Like many Nepali hill towns, a major attraction is hiking up to a ridge overlooking the village, for great views. You can also walk up to Thumki Hill, which the local Magar people call the ‘place of spirits’. Animist traditions are still practiced here, and villagers go to the hill to worship their ancestors. There are also great sunset views from here.

Other nearby attractions and activities include white-water rafting, paragliding, the refreshing Namaste Falls, and Rani Lake in Rajarani, where you can spot beautiful birds. You can also make a trip to the city of Dharan, about an hour away, to see the small circuit of sights, including attractive temples.

Climate and weather

At around 1500 metres altitude, Namje is cooler than the stifling Terai, but not high enough that you’ll experience any altitude-related problems. Spring (March-May) and autumn (October-November) are warm without being too hot, and there’s usually no rain. Winter (December-February) can be cold, but is usually dry.

Best Time to Visit

Spring (March-May) and autumn (October-November) are the best times to visit Namje. Bring some warm clothes if coming in winter (December-February). The area experiences a hot and damp monsoon season (June-early September), which is best avoided as the views won’t be great.